Feed-off-the arm sewing machine



Dec. 24, 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,

FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,741,096

FEED-OFF-THE-ARM sawme momma Filed July 1, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 24, 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,741,096

v FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 1, 1927 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,741,096

FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE Filed July 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w i W a NW \N m "a" A ny Elm W/AW 1 W sww. kl V N. Z wfin P .5. v \N 24, 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,741,096

FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/wmiflw i l m K 1" Filed July 1, 1927 Dec. 24, 1929. N. v. CHRISTENSEN ET AL 1,741,096

FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 f I m W WW gnwntozs 1/. 5m

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN V. CHRISTENSEN, OF CHICAGO, AND HAROLD J. LE VESCONTE, OF MAYWOOD,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FEED-OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE Application filed July 1, 1927. Serial No. 202,878.

The invention relates to new and'useful improvements in sewing machines, and more particularly to a sewing machine of the type shown and described in the application filed by N. V. Christensen and Harold J. Le Vesconte, February 16, 1925, Serial No. 9,584.

In this application a sewing machine as a unit is suspended from the outer end of the overhanging bracket formed as an integral part of a supporting base. This sewing machine unit includes a suspended work supportin arm which is spaced suflicicntly from the ad acent face of the bracket and supporting base as to permit the operator to readily guide the material which is being stitched along the Work supporting arm. The machine is primarily designed for stitching tubular articles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the work supporting arm of the sewing machine unit has its free end terminating beneath the main actuatin shaft of the machine, and wherein sai work supporting arm is so disposed relative to the supporting frame of the sewin machine unit as to give a clear vision of t e stitchin point'to an operator sitting at the suspen ed end of the work supporting arm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the work supporting arm is carried by a depending member inclined to the vertical so that the actuated parts in the work supporting arm may be directly connected to the main actuating shaft in the supporting frame at the upper end of said depending member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the abovet ype wherein p the main actuating shaft terminates within the frame adjacent the suspended end of the work supporting arm and projects beyond the frame at its other end, and is provided with a driving wheel whereby it may be actuated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type wherein the needle bar is located directly beneath the actuating shaft and is operated by an "eecentric member carried by the main actuating shaft.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show b way of illustration one embodiment of the invenion:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine viewed from the left hand side thereof and embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine viewed from the free end of the work supporting arm;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine with certain of the cover plates removed to show the mechanism beneath the same;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the upper frame member and needle head in section;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally of the work supporting arm showing a portion of the depending member suspending the same and the presser foot and needles;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fi 7 is a vertical sectional view through the epending member and the suspended end of the work supporting arm, also showing a portion of the overhanging bracket carrying the sewing machine unit;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 of.F1g. 5.

The invention is directed to a sewing machine of the type wherein the sewing machine as a unit is suspended by an overhanging bracket formed as an integral art of a supporting base. The sewing mac ine unit includes an upper frame member in which member is the work supporting arm which is removably attached thereto. This work supporting arm terminates at a point beneath the actuating shaft in the upper frame member.

A needle bar is located directly beneath the actuating shaft, and the complemental stitch forming mechanism is of course located in the work supporting arm. By 10- eating the needle bar directly beneath the actuating shaft a direct thrust may be given to the needle bar from an eccentric carried by the actuating shaft. In the work supporting arm is the feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism and the looper mechanism are actuated by devices extending through the depending member. These devices are connected directly to the actuating shaft which terminates at the upper end of the depending member. These devices are directly connected to the actuated parts of the feeding mechanism and looper mechanism.

The purpose of inclining the depending member is to give the operator when sitting directly in line with the work supporting arm a clear vision of the stitchin point. The work supporting arm is spaced mm the supporting bracket and standard so as to give ample room to guide the material along the work supporting arm.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the improved machine includes a supporting base 1 carrying a standard 2, which is provided with an overhanging bracket portion 3, and the sewing machine unit is mounted at the outer end of this overhanging bracket portion and is supported solely thereby. The

' sewing machine unit consists of an upper frame member 4, a depending member 5, a work supporting arm 6, and a housing 7 for the needle bar actuating mechanism and presser foot supporting mechanism.

Located in the upper frame member 4 is the main actuating shaft 8. The main actuating shaft 8 extends over the depending member 5 and terminates within the frame of the machine. Said actuating shaft at its other end is mounted in spaced bearings 9 and 10 and projects beyond the bearing 10 where it is provided with a driving wheel 11 and hand wheel 12. I

A needle bar 13 is mounted for reciprocation in suitable hearings in the housing 7. The needle bar is actuated by means of a link 14, which cooperates with an eccentric member 15 located between the bearings 9 and 10 and carried by the shaft 4. The link 14 as shown in the present embodiment of the invention is pivoted at 16 to a sleeve 17 which is rigidly attached to the upper end of the needle bar. The needle bar in the present embodiment of the invention carries two needles 18 and 19.

Also mounted in the housing 7 is a presser bar 20 which carries a presser foot 21. Lo-

cated within the housing 7 is a coil spring 22 which surrounds the upper end of the presser bar. This coil spring at its upper end bears against a nut 23 carried by a sleeve mounted in a bearing lug in the housing 7. The coil spring at its lower end bears against a collar 24 fixed to the presser bar, and thus it is that the coil spring yieldingly holds the presser foot against the material. A hand lever 25 provided with a suitable cam is adapted to engage a pin 26 carried by the collar 24 for raising the presser bar.

Cooperating with the needle 18 is a looper 27. Cooperating with the needle 19 is a looper 28. These loopers 27 and 28 are carried by a looper shaft 29. The looper shaft is moved endwise for giving the loopers a need 'e avoiding movement by a vertical shaft 30, which is mounted in bearings 31 and 32 carried by the depending member of the sewing machine unit. The vertical shaft is provided with an arm 33 at its lower end, which is connected by a link 34 to a lug mounted on the sleeve 35 located between spaced collars attached to the shaft. The sleeve is free on the looper shaft so that it may oscillate therewith but when the vertical shaft is oscillated it will move the sleeve endwise and this will. move the looper shaft endwise. At the upper end of the vertical shaft 30 there is an arm 36 which carries a ball stud connected p to an eccentric strap 37 cooperating with an eccentric on the main actuating shaft 8.

At the extreme end of the main actuating shaft there is a crank 38 to which a link 39 is attached. Thelink 39 at its lower end is connected to a crank 40 carried at the end of the looper supporting shaft 29. This is the means for oscillating the loopers into and out of the needle thread loops.

The material is fed off from the end of the work support by a feed dog 41 carried by a feed bar 42. The feed bar 42 is forked and the rear ends of the forked members of the feed bar are pivotally connected to a swinging link support 43. The feed bar is moved endwise by means of a rocker arm 44. This rocker arm'is adjustably connected to a link 45, which is pivoted to the feed bar. The rocker arm at its lowerend is connected to a link 46, which is pivoted to a lug formed as a part of the sleeve 35. When the sleeve 35 is moved endwise the rocker arm through the link 45 will impart endwise movement to the feed bar.

The feed bar at its forward end is raised and lowered by a lever 47. A link 48 is pivoted to the outer end of this lever and to the feed bar. The lever extends rearwardly in the work supporting arm and its extreme rear end carries a ball stud 49. An eccentric strap 50 is connected to the ball stud 49 and cooperates with an eccentric on the main actuating shaft 8. The entire work. supporting arm 6 is detachably connected to the depending member by means of bolts 51, 51.

The parts for operatin the feed dog and the loopers are all assembled in this detachable supporting arm and are operated by direct connection with the main actuating shaft through the depending member. The vertical shaft is mounted in the depending member and if the actuated parts are disconnected from this vertical shaft the link 39 which oscillates the looper and the eccentric strap 50 which raises and lowers the feed dog the entire work supporting arm can be removed from the machine.

The depending member 5 is inclined to the vertical. The main actuatingshaft lies in a vertical plane indicated at'yy in Figure 3 of the drawings. the work supporting arm and line of feed lie in a vertical plane, indicated-at a:m in Figure 3'. The longitudinal axis of the depending member 5 lies in a vertical plane, indicated at 2-2 in .Figure 3. These vertical planes intersectat points a, b, a, and this forms a triangle. The sewing machine unit can well be described as a triangular frame unit wherein the apex of the triangle is at the stitching point. The best location for an operator is directly-in line with and at the suspended end ofthe work supporting arm,

thus both sides of the work supporting arm are readily accessible for guiding the material along the, same. The inclination of the de pending member-offsets the suspended end of the work supporting arm from the upper frame member which carries the main actuating shaft and this gives the operator a clear vis'ionof the stitching point, and at the same time provides atype of frame .wherein the actuated parts in the work supporting arm are directly connected to the actuating shaft in the upper frame member. The positioning of the parts asstated above also brings "the stitching point directly beneath the actuating shaft, and therefore. the needle bar is'located substantiall in the vertical plane containing the longitu inal axis-of the actuating shaft. This is the most advantageous place for the needle bar as it can then be reciprocated .by an eccentric member located directly above the needle bar and imparting a direct reciprocating thrust thereto.

The looper thread take-up consists of a cam member 52 mounted on the main shaft 8 and rotated therewith. Cooperating with this cam member are thread guides 53 and 54. Associated with the take-up are nippersprings 55 and a cam '56 for operating the nipper springs. These parts may be of any desired construction, and the essential elementsofa preferredform have only been shown more or less diagrammatically. It will be understood that the means for actuating the needle bar may be modified,'the essential feature, however','being that the needle bar shall be The longitudinal axis of reciproca'ted by a direct thriist from an' trio member on the main actuating sh ft It will be obvious that the actuating mechanism for the looper and for the feed dog may be likewise modified, the essential features being that the actuated parts for the looper and the feed shall be all assembled in the work supporting arm and actuated-by direct connections through the depending member with the main actuating shaft in the upper frame member. The shaping of the frame may also be varied. The essential features however reside in the sewing machine frame as a unit which is suspendedby an overhanging bracket, and which unit consists of a tri-; angular arrangement of the parts .of the frame with the stitching point at the apexof the triangle. 7

Having described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A sewing machine comprising-a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supportedat the'outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuatin shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said. upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating shaft, an eccentric member carriedby said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work support ing arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supportingmrm, said depending member and work supporting arm being disposed relative to said upper frame-member so that the end of the work supporting arm is visible to the operator when sitting at the suspended end of the arm and in line therewith.

- 2. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported'at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath .said main actuating shaft, a needle carried thereby, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, a looper mounted in said work supporting arm and cooperating with said needle, a feed dog mounted in said work supporting arm, means extending through said depending member and arm for actuat ing said looper and said feed dog, said depending member and work supporting arm being disposed relative to said upper frame.

member so that the end of the work supporting arm is visible to the operator when sitting at the suspended end of the arm and in line therewith.

3. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing mechine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating shaft, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, the axis of said work supporting arm being disposed in a vertical plane intersecting a vertical plane containing the actuating shaft substantially at the stitching point.

4. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating shaft, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, the axis of said work supporting arm being disposed in a vertical plane intersecting a Vertical plane containing the actuating shaft substantially at the stitching point, said depending member being disposed in a vertical plane intersecting the vertical plane containing the actuating shaft and the vertical plane containing the axis of the work supporting arm.

5. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating "r shaft, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and sli 'ifltillig said work supporting r, the id Fork supporting arm d vial plane intersectlag the actuating ditching point,

said depending member being disposed in a vertical plane cutting the vertical plane containing the actuating shaft at substantially right angles.

(3. A sewing-machine comprising a sup porting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating shaft, an eccentric member carried. by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, adepending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, a looper shaft extending lengthwise of said work supporting arm, a looper carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said depending member extending lengthwise thereof, means for oscillating said last named shaft from the main shaft, means operated by said last named shaft for moving said looper shaft endwise, and means operated by said actuating shaft and extending through said depending member for oscillating said looper shaft.

7. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and positioned for reciprocation directly beneath said main actuating shaft, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, means for connecting said eccentric member to said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, a looper shaft extending lengthwise of said work supporting arm, a looper carried thereby, a shaft mounted in said depending member extending lengthwise thereof, means for oscillating said last named shaft from the main shaft, means operated by said last named shaft for moving said looper shaft endwise, and means operated by said actuating shaft and extending through said depending member for oscillating said looper shaft, a feed dog, a feed bar supporting said feed dog, means actuated by said shaft extending lengthwise of the depending member for moving said feed bar back and forth, and means actuated by said main shaft for raising and lowering the end of the feed bar carrying the feed dog.

8. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket,

supported by said upper frame memberv and actuated from said shaft, said needle bar being disposed in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of said upper frame member, a depending member carried by the opposite end of the frame member from the needle bar, a work supporting arm suspended by said depending member and terminating beneath the needle bar, said work supporting arm lying in a vertical plane intersecting said vertical plane containing the upper frame member substantially at the line of the needle bar so that the work supporting arm is visible to the operator when sitting at the suspended end of the arm and in line therewith.

9. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft, a needle bar supported by said upper frame member and actuated from said shaft, said needle bar being disposed in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of said upper frame member, a depending member carried by the opposite end of the frame member from the needle bar, a work supporting arm suspended by said depending member and terminating beneath the needle bar, said work supporting arm lying in a vertical plane intersecting said vertical plane containing the upper frame member substantially at the line of the needle bar so that the work supporting arm is visible to the operator when sitting at the suspended end of the arm and in line therewith, said depending member being inclined to the vertigal plane containing the upper frame mem- 10. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the upper end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuatin shaft located therein, a needle bar carried iiy said upper frame member and located beneath said actuating shaft, an eccentric member carried by said shaft, and means for reciprocating said needle bar from said eccentric member, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath the needle bar, an inclined depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, a looper in said work supporting arm, a looper shaft carrying said looper, a

' feed dog at the free end ofv the work supporting arm, a feed bar carrying said feed dog, mechanisms operated by said main actuating shaft and extending through said inclined depending member for operating said looper and said feed dog.

11. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therein, a needle bar carried by said upper frame member and disposed beneath said main actuating shaft, means operated by said actuat ing shaft for reciprocating said needle bar, a work supporting arm having the free end thereof terminating beneath said needle bar, a depending member carried by said upper frame member and suspending said work supporting arm, said work supporting arm being disposed in a vertical plane intersecting a vertical plane containing the axis of the main actuating shaft substantially in line with the needle bar, a feed dog mounted in said work supporting arm and disposed for feeding the material off from the end of said arm, a presser bar mounted on said frame and located directly in rear of the needle bar in the'line of feed, and a presser foot carried thereby.

12. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member having a substantially vertical depending member at one end thereof and an inclined depending member at the other end thereof, a work supporting arm carried by said inclined depending member and terminating beneath the vertical depending member, a needle bar mounted in said vertical depending member, a looper and a feed dog mounted in said work supporting arm, an actuating shaft, means for reciprocating said needle bar from said shaft, and mechanisms extending through said inclined depending member and the work supportin armfor operating the looper and the feed 0g.

13. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit supported at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member having a substantially vertical depending member at one end thereof and an I inclined depending member at the other end thereof, a work supporting arm carried by said inclined depending member and terminating beneath the vertical depending member, a needle bar mounted in said vertical depending member, a looper and a feed dog mounted in said work supporting arm, an actuating shaft, means for reciprocating said needle bar from said shaft, and mechanisms extending through said inclined depending member and the work supporting arm for operating the looper and the feed dog, said main actuating shaft being disposed in a vertical plane containing the needle bar.

14. A sewing machine comprising a supporting base having an overhanging bracket, a sewing machine unit suspended at the outer end of said bracket including an upper frame member, a main actuating shaft located therei in, a depending member carried at one end of said upper frame member, a work supporting arm carried by said depending member and having the free end thereof terminating ditures.

NORMAN V. CHRISTENSEN. HAROLD J. LE VESCONTE. 

